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Original poster

Anyone other teachers fed up with teaching?

42 replies

ciderwithrosie · 29/01/2009 17:09

Im on supply having given up a part time job with a horrible bullying headteacher. Does anyone else feel it's all going mad with the amount of stuff there is to do, as prescribed by LEA's? I'm talking about using success criteria, VCOP walls, self assessment, targets etc etc. Its all well and good and I can see the point of some of it but its so time consuming! If you've got a class of 30 Y5's and you're marking their literacy with a positive comment and then a target for next time plus spelling mistakes it takes bloody ages! Not to mention marking the rest of the days work, preparation and so on. CWAYZEE!What do others think?

OP posts:
tessieb · 29/01/2009 19:36

I know exactly what you mean!!!

I worked as a supply teacher for 5 years from DS being a baby and loved it. I found I enjoyed being with the children more without the additional pressures/work load. I loved the freedom and flexibility, and being able to get home at a reasonable time and be able to completely switch off from work. Supply definately provides a much better work/life balance.

I started a permanent contract last year, and it has been a shock! There seems to be more pressure than when I was last in a permanent contract (about 7.5 years ago). I have a lovely class and enjoy teaching BUT, like you, I'm fed up of all the extras we have to do. It's relentless!

I have been wondering about giving up the contract and going back to supply, but know I'll miss the security of a regular salary. Also, I'm not sure whether there is as much supply work around at the moment (been reading the supply forum on the TES website).

How are you finding supply teaching, ciderwithrosie? Is it something you can see yourself doing long-term?

feralgirl · 29/01/2009 20:22

Ciderwithrosie, I totally feel your pain! I'm secondary English (but on mat leave at the mo) and am dreading going back in June and trying to balance being a mum and a teacher. Coursework, AfL, ECM, SEAL, new diplomas etc. I am seriously thinking about going on the supply list but - as you say tessieb - there is less around; secondary schools employ cover teachers rather than shelling out for supply.
I can't believe I am ruining my time with my gorgeous new son by stressing ALREADY about my job!

feralgirl · 29/01/2009 20:28

Re marking, my policy has always been to tick and flick and close mark one piece of extended work a fortnight. Also peer assessment so they mark each others work and write targets for each other (easy once you've got them to write the success criteria for a task based on level descriptions); surely Y5s could do that and save you some time?

tessieb · 29/01/2009 21:03

Feralgirl - don't let the thought of work spoil your maternity leave. Enjoy every moment! At least when you go back in June it's only a short time till the summer holidays. Will you go part-time?

I work 3 (very full!) days a week and think that's plenty!

ja9 · 29/01/2009 21:07

definitely knackering. i only work o.5 fte but it wipes me out. so many new initiatives that i feel i should be embracing, but it's just never ending. sigh.

Heated · 29/01/2009 21:13

I am today. We have Nurse Ratched as our Deputy Head.

yama · 29/01/2009 21:13

Not fed up with teaching but fed up with teachers!

twinsetandpearls · 29/01/2009 21:22

I am today which is most unlike me.

I have done nothing but work an sleep for a few weeks now an it is really getting me down. I have 6o exam papers that have to be marke tonight an I just cannot do it. I am so exhausted. I have done about 15 since getting in and am now so tired I could literally sit and cry.

I am having an hour snooze and then will start again.

I am sure it will all look much brighter after a nap.

tryingtobemarypoppins · 29/01/2009 21:37

I am struggling with 3 days and a 15 month old. I really miss him after 3 days. I leave for work before he wakes and get in as he goes to sleep. Thursday and Friday are our special days before the weekend and it feels like the last few weeks he has been poorly those days! Roll on half term!!

Re VOCP, displays, marking, targets......I am exhusted and not sure really how much the children gain sometimes! I think part of the issue is finding a great job share, dignostic marking once a week, tick the rest and targets per unit of work not weekly etc.

I have just agreed to summer marking as well, I bet reports will clash again.

To be honest, if I could afford to I would give up work but with a DH in the building trade, it doesn't look likely!

Original poster
ciderwithrosie · 30/01/2009 10:12

tessieb, I am liking supply teaching and am just getting enough but feel I should really get my finger out and get proper full time job. Both my children are at school so no excuse really!Would have to be right school though.

OP posts:
slug · 30/01/2009 10:26

Oh ciderwithrosie, I know exactly how you feel. I gave it all up a year ago because it all became too much for me. It got to the point where I felt I had to log every conversation with every student just to cover my back. I now work in virtual learning environments, which is much more chilled.

Original poster
ciderwithrosie · 30/01/2009 11:21

What is that slug? Haven't heard of those.

OP posts:
slug · 30/01/2009 11:43

Oooh! An excuse to talk about my latest obsession!!

VLEs are web based learning tools. You may know some of the brand names; Blackboard, WebCT or Moodle. They are course based and use Web2.0 tools to support learning. At their simplest they can be used as a repository of learning materials for a course, but there are lots of exciting things you can do with them like add discussion forums, wikis and podcasting.

They are very useful for students with special needs, especially those who may have difficulty with the classroom environment. I once put a whole course on the VLE for a student who had Sickle Cell anemia and had to spend a lot of time in hospital. As I type, I'm waiting for a series of podcasts I've recorded to upload. It really suits my "no excuses" style of student learning management.

Original poster
ciderwithrosie · 30/01/2009 15:49

Sounds great slug. Bit above my capabilities technology wise though! Was thinking it might be something I could do instead of teaching.

OP posts:
Caz10 · 30/01/2009 22:45

Right now I am really wishing there is something I could do other than teaching...FT, dd 13mths, miss her so much, school has gone crazy with new initiatives etc, nothing we do seems good enought atm. .

stressed, tired, feeling guilty as don't feel like a good mum or a good teacher...

tessieb · 31/01/2009 14:51

Caz10 it must be so hard teaching FT with such a young child. I'm not surprised you feel stressed and tired. Would you be able to go part-time?

ciderwithrosie - if you enjoy supply and are getting enough work, then I would advise you not to rush into a contract. You mention that your children are at school now. I thought it was a good time to get a permanent job now my DS is in school, but it is so difficult balancing everything. Fortunately I am part-time (3 days a week) and those days are just so hectic.

I do like having my own class, but find job-share difficult at times. I am looking for something else (v tempted to go back to supply), just not sure what! When I think back to my supply days, getting back about 4 o'clock, no additional work etc...

tryingtobemarypoppins · 31/01/2009 21:08

Caz10, I really feel for you and take my hat off to you. I am only just keeping my head above water on 3 days, I don't know how you do it FT.

Have you thought about part time? I do 3 days and worked out that with the cost of nursery, the help towards nursery costs, and doing summer marking, I am better off doing 3 days. Supply once a month makes a big difference if you needed to do more. Marking in the summer is about £1200 so I spread that out over the year and that's an extra £100 a month. Look into AST route as well, that really helped my salary too.

Caz10 · 01/02/2009 15:22

Thanks for your kind words! We are in a good situation in some ways as DH works shifts, so dd does not need to be in childcare 5 days, in fact atm we have no childcare costs as we only need someone to take her 2 days a week, DH manages the rest, and currently we split the 2 days between mum and MIL.

However this isn't going to be workable for long as I fear DH may collapse with exhaustion taking her before/after nightshifts etc, plus I have the usual issues with my MIL and mum!

We can't afford me doing 3 days, but I'm really hoping we can stretch to me doing 4 from the start of the autumn term this year, which has to at least be a little bit better?! Good point re supply too, hadn't thought of that.

I job shared before and it was actually very hard in some ways as I'm sure you know tessieb, in some ways just having my own class is easier, I can run behind in things and not worry iyswim.

BUT I'm knackered and really missing dd...4 days will be better won't it?! [hopeful emotion...]

Caz10 · 01/02/2009 15:23

PS what is AST (I'm in Scotland, different acronyms here I think!!)

cupofteaplease · 01/02/2009 15:40

I am doing the FT PGCE at the moment and I am finding that hard enough!

I have two dc aged 3 and 19 months and I never see them. It's quite soul-destroying. When I'm not planning it's evaluating my lessons, marking or assessment or uni tasks and assignments... But hey, you all know about that already, having done it yourselves!

I wanted to do a job share, 3 days, when I qualify, but some LEAs at the recruitment fayre were not very encouraging. It seems I'd only get a job share if I was returning from maternty leave. How did others come about their job share positions?x

Caz10 · 01/02/2009 15:47

I got a job share as my 1st post after my PGCE and probation year cupoftea, it was just good timing, the 3-day half of an existing job share was leaving in June, I filled the post in August until it went to advert, then went for an the interview and got it. Sods law, at the time I was desparate for 5 days, so filled my 2 days with temp contracts then eventually got a FT post. Now I'd love to be back there! but just wanted to say it is possible!

cupofteaplease · 01/02/2009 16:57

That's encouraging then, Caz. Thanks for that!

tryingtobemarypoppins · 01/02/2009 19:13

AST (advanced skills teacher). You basically have 20% of your timetable as outreach, supporting teachers in other schools. Payscale is great. It starts at 35,794 and goes up to 54,417. I would really recommend it. Going down to three days mean't I could still earn 23K a year.

Have you considered marking too?

Your doing a great job, don't get down but do look into other options.

Caz10 · 01/02/2009 20:14

Aah we don't have that marypoppins, sounds great. I'm primary, so no marking. Best bet for extra cash would be supply, and I'm also on the register for home tutors, for kids with long term illness etc - BUT I've been on that register for 4yrs now and no work so not holding my breath on that count!

That payscale is amazing too, some of our promoted posts don't even go up to that as it's done on school roll, so a small school = smaller promoted salary.

Oh and who mentioned VCOP...aaaargh it is driving me nuts, printed out umpteen display items from TES last weekend only to discover the colours don't match our school's bloody colour code for it...back to square 1...

janeite · 01/02/2009 20:23

Caz - primary teachers can also become ASTs - here's a link to give you more info.

AST

The assessment process is quite gruelling but the difference to the salary if you can pass and get a post is rather nice! I became a secondary English AST last year.

Tbh I absolutely love the teaching part of my job and it's not more money that is the issue: I just need lots more time and to wear fewer hats every day if that makes sense. I sometimes feel like marmite that has been spread too thinly!